Microplastic remediation technologies in water and wastewater treatment processes: Current status and future perspectives

Microplastics (MPs) are a type of contaminants produced during the use and disposal of plastic products, which are ubiquitous in our lives. With the high specific surface area and strong hydrophobicity, MPs can adsorb various hazardous microorganisms and chemical contaminants from the environment, c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2023-04, Vol.868, p.161618-161618, Article 161618
Main Authors: Lu, Yang, Li, Mei-Chun, Lee, Juhyeon, Liu, Chaozheng, Mei, Changtong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Advanced oxidative processes
Bioremediation
Coagulation
Humans
Membrane filtration
Microplastics
Plastics
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Purification - methods
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Summary:Microplastics (MPs) are a type of contaminants produced during the use and disposal of plastic products, which are ubiquitous in our lives. With the high specific surface area and strong hydrophobicity, MPs can adsorb various hazardous microorganisms and chemical contaminants from the environment, causing irreversible damage to our humans. It is reported that the MPs have been detected in infant feces and human blood. Therefore, the presence of MPs has posed a significant threat to human health. It is critically essential to develop efficient, scalable and environmentally-friendly methods to remove MPs. Herein, recent advances in the MPs remediation technologies in water and wastewater treatment processes are overviewed. Several approaches, including membrane filtration, adsorption, chemically induced coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, bioremediation, and advanced oxidation processes are systematically documented. The characteristics, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of these methods are well discussed and highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends of these methods are proposed, with the aim of facilitating the remediation of MPs in water and wastewater treatment processes in a more efficient, scalable, and environmentally-friendly way. [Display omitted] •Reviewing the filtration, absorption, coagulation, bioremediation and AOP methods•Discussing the analytical methods for the evaluation of MPs removal efficiency•Proposing the mechanism, advantage and crucial challenge of MPs removal technology•Forecasting the future development trend of MPs removal technology
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161618